New York inheritance planning involves passing on values as well as assets. No matter how large the family estate, most parents think long and hard about how their inheritance will affect the lives of their children. For many there are no easy answers to questions like how new wealth will…
An important benefit of visiting with a New York estate planning lawyer to help with your asset planning is that on top of carrying out your wishes, the professional can share avenues available to you of which you may not be aware. For example, many area residents are under the…
New York estate planning is often given little thought by some local residents until a specific event brings attention to the issue. A retirement, death of a close friend or relative, and similar occurrences often act as a catalyst leading residents to consider plans for their own affairs. Unfortunately, for…
Over the past few decades stories in popular culture have raised the profile of one type of contract–the prenuptial agreement. Some area residents use this document as an important part of their New York estate plan to help clearly set out the rights and responsibilities of both married partners in…
Perhaps no New York estate planning effort has received more attention over the past few years than that of well-known New York hotelier Leona Helmsley. Upon her death in 2007 a scramble ensued to determine what would happen with her estate, estimated to be worth billions. As a post yesterday…
Virtually all local families have much to gain from taking the time to conduct proper New York estate planning. However, for some the need to ensure that future finances are in order and loved ones are secure indefinitely is a particularly strong necessity. Families who have children with special needs,…
When many area residents are told to consider visiting a New York estate planning lawyer their mind immediately envisions someone who will craft a will or a create a trust. However, estate planning is much more than document creation. Instead, it is best viewed as a process by which an…
A New York estate planning lawyer knows that there is never a bad time to prepare and plan for your financial future. Some area community members, however, don’t begin to seriously consider seeking estate planning help until their mind turns toward retirement. Busy New Yorkers often figure that they can…
Many seniors know that they need to get in touch with a New York elder law attorney to help update and handle matters related to their estate. Yet much of the actual work that those lawyers do is shrouded in mystery to the average community member. Some believe that it…
Over the last two years, four sets of estate tax rules have been in effect, with the individual exemption ranging from $2 million (2008) to $3.5 million (2009) to unlimited (2010) to $ 5 million (2011). Besides these varying exemption levels, another major change in the new estate rules includes…